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Waves: Light and Sound

Waves are all around us - from the light that allows us to see, to the sounds we hear every day. Understanding waves helps students make sense of many everyday phenomena and builds a foundation for future learning in physics, communication technologies, and more.

Grade Four Expectations for Waves

Essential Learning Outcome 1: Develop a model to describe that light reflecting from objects and entering the eye allows objects to be seen

  • Explain that objects can be seen when light reflected from their surface enters the eyes
  • Demonstrate how light travels in straight lines until it is reflected or refracted
  • Create models showing how light reflects off surfaces at predictable angles
  • Investigate how different surfaces reflect light differently (mirrors vs. paper)
  • Explain the relationship between light, objects, and our ability to see

Specific Curriculum Outcomes

By the end of Grade Four, the learner will be expected to:

Inclusive Assessment Strategies

Assessment strategies that provide information about learning:

  • Observations: Teacher observations during light and sound experiments, model building, and collaborative investigations
  • Conversations: Student explanations of wave properties, reflections on experimental results, and connections to everyday phenomena

Sample Assessment Tools:

  • Performance tasks involving light reflection and sound production
  • Exit tickets to assess understanding of key wave concepts
  • Science journals for recording observations, diagrams, and conclusions

Inclusive Learning Strategies

Additional Resources and Materials

For Teachers

  • Light and sound demonstration kits
  • Prisms, mirrors, and lenses for light experiments
  • Tuning forks, string instruments, and percussion tools
  • Videos showing wave properties and behaviors
  • OECS Grade 4 Science Curriculum Guide

For Students

  • Science journals for recording observations and reflections
  • Materials for creating simple optical devices
  • Components for building musical instruments
  • Wave vocabulary cards and visual aids
  • Interactive simulations (when technology is available)

Teacher Content Knowledge

The Waves strand in Grade 4 helps students understand that light and sound are forms of energy that travel as waves. Light waves can be reflected, refracted, and absorbed, allowing us to see objects when light bounces off them and enters our eyes. Sound waves are created by vibrations that travel through matter, with pitch related to frequency and volume related to amplitude. These foundational concepts prepare students for more advanced study of wave phenomena in later grades.